SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The RMU softball team's offense continued its historic surge Sunday afternoon, closing out the Spartan Classic/Sparkle City Invite with a 16-6 run-rule victory over the Holy Cross Crusaders in five innings. The Colonials finished the weekend 3-2 and improved to 5-4 overall on the young season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
For the fourth consecutive game, junior outfielder Kaylyn Hopf set the tone immediately, leading off with a hit. Sequoia Dunlap reached on a fielder's choice in the next at-bat, though Hopf was retired at second. That proved to be only a minor hiccup.
 
On a full count, Courtney Poulich launched her first home run of the afternoon to right-center field, staking RMU to a quick 2-0 advantage.
 
Holy Cross answered in the bottom half of the inning, manufacturing three runs with small ball execution to briefly take a 3-2 lead.
 
RMU wasted no time responding. In the second, Hopf worked a walk and Dunlap singled up the middle to bring Poulich back to the plate. On the very first pitch she saw, Poulich crushed her second homer of the game — this one to deep center — swinging the momentum right back in RMU's favor at 5-3.
 
The Crusaders scratched across another run on an RBI single, but the Colonials were only beginning to heat up.
 
Aglaia Rudd jump started a massive third inning with a leadoff double. Katlyn Jardine followed with a walk, and freshman Erynn Thompson delivered with a double to score Rudd. Alivia Hare kept the rally rolling, driving a single up the middle to plate Thompson and Jardine.
 
Dunlap added a sacrifice fly to score Hare, pushing the lead to 9-4. Poulich then reached on an error and Mary Brant singled to continue the pressure. Eloise Facher capped the frame with a two-RBI single, scoring Poulich and Brant to give RMU an 11-4 cushion.
 
The Colonials poured it on again in the fourth. Rudd singled, Jardine was hit by a pitch and Hare drew a walk to load the bases. Hopf ripped a single up the middle, scoring Rudd and Jardine while advancing to second on the throw. A passed ball allowed Hopf to move to third and Hare to cross the plate, stretching the lead to 14-4.
 
RMU loaded the bases once more as Dunlap walked and Poulich was hit by a pitch. Brant's sacrifice fly brought Hopf home, and Dunlap later scored on a wild pitch to make it 16-4.
 
Holy Cross managed two runs late, but the early deficit was too much to overcome as RMU secured the 16-6 victory in five innings.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• RMU outhit Holy Cross 14-5 in the contest. Rudd finished a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, while Hopf, Poulich, Brant and Facher each tallied two hits.
• Poulich and Dunlap both scored a team-high three runs, while Poulich drove in five RBI. Hopf, Hare and Facher added two RBI apiece.
• In the circle, junior Kaitlyn Molitoris recorded the first two outs before Sammie Borrayo entered in relief. Borrayo earned her second win of the season, striking out five over 4.1 innings of work while limiting the Crusaders offense.

 
92 RUNS IN 9 GAMES
RMU's offensive numbers through nine games are unprecedented in program history. The Colonials have scored 92 runs — averaging 10.2 per contest — the fastest scoring start the program has ever produced. Previously, RMU had never eclipsed 70 runs in its opening nine games.
 
As a team, the Colonials own a .403 batting average, a .495 on-base percentage and a .724 slugging percentage. They've already compiled 98 hits and 81 RBI, showcasing both depth and power throughout the lineup.
 
HOME RUN DERBY
Poulich delivered yet another statement performance, launching two home runs against Holy Cross. It marked her fifth career game with two or more homers and the third time she has produced five or more RBI in a single contest.
 
For her career, Poulich now owns 27 home runs and 88 RBI. She currently shares the team lead with five home runs this season.
 
As a team, RMU has slugged 19 home runs in nine games — averaging more than two per outing — further underscoring one of the most explosive starts in program history.
 
QUOTABLE – JEXX VARNER
"We're happy to be leaving the weekend with a winning record. The offense continues to roll – 65 runs over the weekend and 92 runs over the first nine games is elite stuff. Borrayo had another very good outing in relief. She did a good job coming in and challenging Holy Cross. Dunlap was phenomenal at shortstop all weekend and is starting to show awesome range and arm strength. We're excited for a week off coming up and getting the ability to embrace and clean-up the little things that will make this team elite."
 
UP NEXT
RMU will have a week off before traveling to Cullowhee, N.C., for a five-game tournament on March 6-8. The Colonials are set to face Ohio, Western Carolina and Penn over the weekend.
 
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